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"Commit to loving yourself completely. It's the most radical thing you will do in your lifetime."

- Andrea Gibson

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Oil cleansing. Chances are you've heard about it... Oils are huge in the skincare industry right now - and for good reason! They are amazing for preserving and maintaining the health of your skin. Whether you are as dry as a desert, you'd compare your face to an oil slick, or you fall somewhere in-between, oils are your friend. Let me explain why...

For starters, oils preserve your youth! They help to prevent/prolong fine lines/aging and they also protect your skin from free radicals as well as trapping and holding moisture in the deep layers of your skin.

All skin types can benefit from using oils! Dry skin needs as much moisture as possible so oils are usually a no-brainer but my oily skin beauties usually cringe at the thought of putting even MORE oil on their skin.

But listen, hear me out.... Oil attracts oil! The more hydrated and nourished your skin feels, the less it needs to produce oil. That doesn't necessarily mean you will go from an oily skin type to combination skin - skin types are (typically) genetic - however, it can help drastically when your skin is off balance and over-producing oils.

......... Someone count how many times I say oil in this post.

There are so many different kinds of oils now. Cleansing oils, moisturizers, beauty oils, serums... Oh, marketing. Today we'll keep to cleansing oils but if you'd like to hear more about any others, let me know in the comments below!

The main difference in each cleansing oil is the base oil that is used. Each are good for certain skin types/concerns so it's important to know what your skin type is before purchasing!

Essentially, you have good and bad oils. The "good" oil, your cleansing oils, will grab onto the bad oils (sebum, dirt, makeup, etc.) and when you rinse, it will take those bad oils with it. If you are very oily/acne prone, I do recommend doing a double-cleanse and following the oil with your typical cleanser. This will ensure that your skin is 100% clean!

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These cleansing oils not only include specific "good" oils but they can also include antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients or acne-fighting ingredients for added benefits.

The best cleansing oils for your skin type:

Dry Skin:

Macadamia

Avocado

Coconut Oil

Sweet Almond

Argan Oil

Oily Skin:

Grapeseed

Jojoba

Safflower

Evening Primrose

Hemp Oil

Combination Skin:

Coconut

Rosehip

Almond

Apricot

Sesame

Sensitive Skin:

Grapeseed

Calendula

Jojoba

Sunflower

Coconut

How to use:

You'll want to apply your cleansing oil with dry hands, on dry skin. Work it in really well throughout your face, massaging it in and focus on your most congested areas. It removes eye-makeup like a dream! After you are done massaging the oil into your skin, add some water to your hands and this will emulsify and break down the oils on your face. Rinse a few times. If you feel that there is still some oil residue left on your skin, double cleanse with your typical cleanser.

I have very acne-prone combination to oily skin. I have seen a huge difference when incorporating oils into my daily skincare routine. Not only for cleansing but also moisturizing and even in my foundation to give a glow and believe it or not, to make my foundation last longer!

Here are some of my favorite cleansing oils -

Excuse the chips of paint missing from my desk - these Ikea desks don't last for very long!!!

From left to right:

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil ($32) - This oil is more on the pricey side but I absolutely love Juice Beauty and this is one product I need to repurchase. It's part of their anti-aging line and is suitable for all skin types. The main ingredients are: Malic Acid, Aloe Leaf Juice, Jojoba Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil and Borage Oil to name a few.

Dermalogica Precleanse ($10-$40 depending on size) - We use Dermalogica at the beauty school I teach at and I have grown to love and adore Precleanse so much. It removes makeup beautifully and I've seen beautiful changes in our guests skin when they incorporate this into their routine. Ingredients: Borage Seed Oil, Kukui & Apricot Oils, Rice Bran and Vitamin E Oils.

Jojoba Oil (the Vitamin Shoppe brand - $9.99) - A staple in my household, I love Jojoba Oil and mainly use it for topically applying essential oils but this has quickly become a go-to for thoroughly removing my makeup. I love saturating a makeup wipe with Jojoba Oil to take off as much makeup as possible before cleansing with my regular skin care routine.

With all of these oils, you want to make sure to apply with dry hands to a dry face. Massage it in really well for a few minutes and apply water when you are ready to remove the product.

Have you used cleansing oils before? What are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!